Homemade cleaners and organic cleaning products are part of a trend that has invaded social networks such as Instagram and Pinterest in 2019. The photos shared on these networks often feature colorful spray bottles surrounded by cut lemons, twigs of rosemary and sage, essential oils, and stylish flasks of vinegar.
This household cleaning trend emerges from the collective anxiety related to harmful chemicals found in common household cleaners, but there’s also the alluring angle of crafting your own cleaning solutions using natural ingredients. While lemon juice and vinegar are natural substances with cleaning properties, they should never be used on granite.
Vinegar as a Cleaning Solution
The production of vinegar, a solution that’s essentially acetic acid extracted from grains or fruits, dates back to the ancient Babylonian civilization. Vinegar has many uses, the most common being to add flavor to certain recipes and some beverages. It can also be used as a home remedy to reduce glucose and treat mild sunburn. Distilled vinegar is often used as a cleaner because its properties can loosen limescale buildup, neutralize foul odors, and kill bacteria.
The Acidic Content of Vinegar
As previously mentioned, vinegar is an acetic acid. You may not think of it as an acidic substance because it’s safe to ingest as a flavoring agent for salads, but vinegar tends to have a pH level that rules out its use on granite and other natural stone. The white vinegar commonly used for cooking has a pH level between 2 and 3, but its relative strength is reduced to 5 percent, thus making it safe for meal preparation. At this pH level, vinegar can cause unwanted chemical reactions, known as etching, on granite and other natural-stone surfaces. The ideal granite cleaner needs to be pH neutralto be considered safe to use on natural stone, and this is one of the properties of Granite Gold Daily Cleaner®.
How Granite Reacts to Vinegar
The problem with vinegar is that its acidity will weaken the protective seal on granite and other natural-stone tiles and slabs. If you keep your stone countertops shiny with Granite Gold Polish®, you’ll notice that vinegar will make them dull. Once vinegar makes it past the granite seal and into the pores, you run the risk of a chemical reaction known as etching, which looks like a stubborn stain that won’t go away, but it’s actually a damaged section of granite or other natural stone that will need to be repaired by a professional stone restoration specialist.
What You Should Use Instead of Vinegar
With all the above in mind, it’s important for you to remember that vinegar or lemon should never be used to clean granite floors, countertops, or any other surfaces made of natural stone. Instead, use Granite Gold Daily Cleaner®or Granite Gold Daily Cleaner Wipes®.Both are pH balanced to ensure the integrity of the seal isn’t compromised and the stone surface isn’t damaged.
For additional information on caring for granite and other types of natural stone such as marble, slate, and travertine, reach out to the Stone Care Experts at Granite Gold®. Call us today at 1-800-475-STONE (7866), and check our Store Locator to find a store near you that carries our stone-safe cleaning, sealing, and polishing products.
With all the above in mind, it’s important for you to remember that vinegar or lemon should never be used to clean granite floors, countertops, or any other surfaces made of natural stone. Instead, use Granite Gold Daily Cleaner®or Granite Gold Daily Cleaner Wipes®.Both are pH balanced to ensure the integrity of the seal isn’t compromised and the stone surface isn’t damaged.
